Blessedly, European club soccer took its hand off the hyperdrive mechanism the last few weeks, giving everyone involved a much-needed moment’s pause. Unlike last summer with the World Cup in full gear, the transfer machine has thus far been mostly quiet unless James Milner moving from Manchester City to Liverpool gets your engine revved up.
The machine is starting to warm up, as Monday’s legitimately big news of Arsenal adding Petr Cech from rival Chelsea should attest. Although we haven’t hit July 1 when the window officially opens, it’s easy to lose track of all the comings-and-goings. Let’s look at a couple (mostly) done deals and some rumors that likely will continue until late August.
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Petr Cech (Chelsea to Arsenal) — At $17 million, this transfer (when officially completed) represents the most money spent on a player over 30 going between two English clubs and is the sixth-highest for a keeper ever. Costly or not, this is a great addition for Arsenal and it keeps the veteran Czech keeper from moving to Manchester United if and when David De Gea is sold to Real Madrid. “Presence” is sort of a nebulous term we place on keepers, but is valid to use in Cech’s case, as he’s an upgrade over both David Opsina and Wojciech Szczęsny since he rarely makes mistakes while commanding his penalty area. Unless Arsenal finally wins the EPL or Champions League it will always face questions. Adding Cech in goal at least eliminates one issue. Long and short: Arsenal improved itself here.
Arsenal are not traditionally the lock-tight defensive unit Chelsea is, but these stats about Cech is telling.
The story that gets lost here is Chelsea continues to work the transfer market to its advantage. Cech losing his No. 1 spot to Thibaut Courtois could have become an issue elsewhere, but Jose Mourinho managed it well and now the Blues again profit handsomely on a player who didn’t fit into the starting XI.
Falcao (loan to Chelsea from Monaco) — Wait … didn’t I just praise Chelsea? Adding the artist formerly known as El Tigre on loan doesn’t sound like good business considering his woeful, four-goal season at Manchester United as he worked his way back from knee surgery. Falcao hasn’t impressed at the Copa America, either. But, when you’re Chelsea coming off the EPL title you can make a risky move like that. Maybe Falcao is an upgrade over Didier Drogba as third-choice striker. If Falcao is your third-choice at striker, that’s probably a good problem for a team to have … so long as Diego Costa stays healthy and out of the referee’s notebook.
Pierre Andre Gignac (Marseille to Tigres) — This is a transfer, even if you’re a soccer nut, which surprises you. Rarely do you see transfers from Ligue 1 to Liga MX. Tigres reportedly will make the 29-year-old French International the highest-paid player in Mexico at around $4 million per season. Gignac was the second-highest scorer in Ligue 1 last season with 21 goals. It’ll be fascinating to see if clubs in Mexico spend more, or target more European-based players. I’d imagine the incentive for Gignac to get away from the insanely high taxes in France played a role here. Of course if Liga MX wants to start throwing around money to further its status as a go-to destination in the Western Hemisphere, it doesn’t have a byzantine series of rules toward spending …
Andrea Pirlo (Juventus to NYCFC) — Meanwhile MLS’ newest team is doing nothing to disprove the “retirement league” label dismissively attached to MLS, reportedly close to adding the 36-year-old Italian maestro. This would be good for t-shirt jersey sales, New York-area billboards, beard enthusiasts, Twitter and Pirlo’s wallet — the Daily News says he’ll get around the same $5-6 million as Frank Lampard and David Villa. Is it good for the team? The Daily News story said Manchester City made the ultimate decision, valuing Pirlo’s name recognition over on-field soccer decisions.
Oh and Pirlo’s online q-rating won’t exactly help NYCFC find a permanent home, but whatever.
DeAndre Yedlin (Tottenham to loan, somewhere) — Odds are the young American won’t be playing for Tottenham this coming season. When Spurs signed Kieran Trippier from relegated Burnley it didn’t leave any room at right back with Kyle Walker still on the books at White Hart Lane. Playing time is key in Yedlin’s development, so he’ll be farmed out somewhere — promoted Norwich is the most-mentioned destination along with a couple clubs in the Championship. I’m curious to see what other managers see as his best position: right back or more of a winger? The fear here is Yedlin ends up in sort of the Scott Sinclair situation — loaned out a half-dozen times, never to play for his parent club. Yedlin is a Jurgen Klinsmann favorite, so a move to another club likely doesn’t change his status with the National Team.
Danny Ings (Burnley to Liverpool) — Fortunately, Liverpool isn’t paying much for Ings, since his contract expires on July 1 so the fee will be nominal. His arrival only complicates the striking situation at the club, which still seems tied to the health of Daniel Sturridge. The latest Google News results for “Christian Benteke Liverpool” yielded 151 results Tuesday morning and it appears the Reds have balked at Aston Villa’s asking price.
Carlos Tevez (Juventus to Boca Juniors) — Call this a pipe dream, but it would have been nice if MLS could have figured out a way to bring Tevez to America. Although this deal isn’t 100 percent done, Juventus paid $20 million to Atletico Madrid for Mario Mandžukić which means eventually Tevez is going back to Argentina. Tevez has been aching to go back home for years, so likely it would have been an impossible signing for MLS, but he’d be worth paying the price of admission to see play for the next 2-3 years.
Geoffrey Kondogbia (Monaco to Inter Milan); Miranda (Atletico Madrid to Inter Milan) –– A signal of intent for Inter under owner Erick Thohir? Inter spent $40 million to get the highly-rated 22-year-old midfielder instead of rival AC Milan, which also appears to have lost out on Jackson Martinez to Atletico. Meanwhile Miranda, who wore the captain’s armband for Brazil vs. Venezuela at the Copa America, is a much more prudent addition than when Inter added Nemanja Vidic this time last year. It’s about time one, if not both, of the Milan teams get their act together and give someone other than Roma a run at Juventus atop Serie A.
Roberto Firmino to Liverpool: Firmino, now getting his first serious run with Brazil during the Copa America, is a player raved about by Bundesliga aficionados. Naturally, fans in England wanted their club to add him even if their only experience with the hybrid attacker is through FIFA. At Liverpool, Firmino theoretically helps offset the eventual loss of Raheem Sterling.
If Firmino is as good as advertised, he’ll be an asset. At Hoffenheim last season he provided consistent goals (9) and assists (10), and in a post-Suarez, post-Gerrard world Liverpool need goals from wherever it can get them on the field. The Reds still need to shore up their defense, but that doesn’t mean Firmino won’t contribute and his noted ball-winning skills from an attacking player can’t be discounted. Worry about where he plays on the field (and his $47 million pricetag) later, by all accounts Firmino is a productive player.
Other done deals: A couple other EPL moves of note … Andre Ayew to Swansea City; Micah Richards to Aston Villa; Tom Cleverly to Everton. Promoted Bournemouth added former Manchester United striker Joshua King and took Chelsea’s Christian Atsu on loan for the year.
[RELATED: Transfer Window 2015: 10 Soccer Stars Who Could Be Switching Clubs]
****Rumors****
Sergio Ramos to Manchester United? … The De Gea to Real Madrid deal is eventually going to happen, but reportedly United want Ramos back as part of the deal. Would Madrid part ways with their 28-year-old defender? Raphaël Varane is ready to start regularly at the Bernabéu and Ramos won’t be worth much value in a transfer the closer he gets to 30. This sounds crazy at first glance but stranger things have happened.
Harry Kane to …? Spurs probably hold on to Kane for another year of Europa League soccer. Fun, right? Whenever he eventually departs White Hart Lane, moving to Manchester United makes the most sense. Maybe Louis van Gaal coaxes another season out of Robin van Persie. Perhaps Chicharito finds his way back into the squad. Maybe James Wilson is an option, but United do need another striker in the near future. Spurs fans will be pissed no matter where their “home grown” player goes, but United at least takes him out of London and the two clubs have worked out deals for Michael Carrick and Dimitar Berbatov in recent seasons.
Paul Pogba to …? The latest rumors are the Frenchman is happy to stay at Juventus. Until the window closes, a move to PSG, Real Madrid, Manchester City, etc. cannot be ruled out. Juventus’ other moves this summer appear to be made with the thought Pogba will be in Turin when September arrives.
Raheem Sterling to … Manchester City? … Monday reports emerged City would be willing to pay close to $80 million for Sterling. Liverpool is unlikely to meet Sterling’s long-term contract needs and if they can get that much money for a player that wants out, well, it’s a boon … so long as the money is spent better the Luis Suarez money. City’s priorities should be in shoring up the middle of the field and it certainly doesn’t lack for creative players, but Sterling would offer Manuel Pellegrini a dynamic new option.
Angel Di Maria to … PSG? … If you’re Manchester United weigh these two options: a) Di Maria gets a needed rest after the Copa America and regains his form, helping United in the EPL and Champions League or b) The longer you hold onto Di Maria, the less likely you are to recoup the nearly $95 million you paid Real Madrid last year. Tough call. Cutting bait after one season on a talent of Di Maria’s caliber — he says he’s staying — isn’t usually prudent. But if you wait too long …
United likely hold the keys to how everything in the EPL shakes out this summer. If Louis van Gaal, Ed Woodward, et al, decide to part with Di Maria and reinvest that money in Kane, Bastian Schweinsteiger and get Ramos back for De Gea that re-calibrates the landscape in England. My hunch is that even with the addition of Memphis Depay the United A-1 goal is still figuring out how to bring Gareth Bale to Old Trafford.
